The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provides different types of assistance to people in need which include the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS).

“AICS serves as a social safety net or a stop-gap mechanism to support the recovery of individuals and families from unexpected crisis such as illness or death of a family member, natural and man-made disasters, and other crisis situations,” says Ma. Evelyn B. Macapobre, regional director for DSWD Central Visayas.

Under AICS, the DSWD provides medical, educational, burial and transportation assistance to persons/families in crisis situations, specifically those who are poor, marginalized, vulnerable, and disadvantaged individuals.

Educational Assistance

DSWD 7 emphasizes that educational assistance is not a scholarship where money is given to someone to help pay for that person’s education.

“DSWD’s educational assistance is given to people who are in crisis.  For example, when a family’s breadwinner is sick, the financial capability of the family is affected like no money for children’s school project, fare in going to school or other school expenses,” explains Macapobre.

For educational assistance, DSWD requires the following: 1) Enrolment assessment form or certificate of enrolment/registration, 2) School ID of the student/beneficiary, and 3) Barangay Certificate of Residency/Indigency and any valid ID of the client.

Medical Assistance

Individuals or families who are poor or indigent, marginalized, vulnerable and disadvantaged can avail of the assistance.

Requirements to avail of the medical assistance of DSWD include 1) Clinical Abstract/Medical Certificate with signature and license number of the attending physician (issued not later than 3 months), 2) Hospital Bill (for payment of hospital bill) or Prescription (for medicines) or Laboratory requests (for procedures), 3) Barangay Certificate of Residency/Indigency and 4) any valid ID of the client.

Transportation Assistance

Poor, marginalized, vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals or families, currently having immediate need, returning home and permanently residing in the town or province, attend to emergency concerns such as death of loved one or care for a family member or relative who is sick in their home provinces or other emergency situation requiring their immediate presence, can avail of the assistance.

Requirements are 1) Barangay Certificate of Residency/Indigency and 2) any valid ID of the client, 3) Police Blotter (for victims of pick pockets, illegal recruitment, etc.)

Burial Assistance

The burial assistance is given to poor or indigent individuals or families, members of informal sector, marginalized, vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals.

To avail of the burial assistance, one must present the following requirements: 1) Funeral Contract, 2) Death Certificate of the deceased, 3) Barangay Certificate of Residency/Indigency, 4) any valid ID of the client, 5) Permit to transfer/Health permit (for transfer of cadaver).

Director Macapobre encourages those who will seek assistance from DSWD 7 through the AICS to 1) ensure that they qualify based on the eligibility criteria of the program, 2) not  to come early as workers begin at 7:00 o’clock in the morning, 3) not get angry when not extended help because there is a set of criteria to be followed, 4) be aware that length of interview varies per person because some needs a longer time to disclose information, and 5) ensure that all documentary requirements are ready and available. ###

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